The Sindh High Court has extended the stay order against the IRSA-issued water availability certificate related to the construction of new canals, while directing the federal government to submit a detailed response by April 29.
During the hearing, the court emphasized that the issue of canal construction and water distribution is not a routine matter and must be handled with national consensus in mind. The court instructed both the federal and Sindh governments to ensure that national unity is preserved and not compromised.
The bench questioned whether a federal member from Sindh had been appointed to IRSA and whether work on the canals was ongoing. In response, the Additional Attorney General informed the court that construction had been halted following previous court directives. He also noted that IRSA’s current composition has affected its decision-making authority.
The court further stated that if resolving the issue on a permanent basis requires legal amendments, then such steps should be taken. “Let this matter be resolved once and for all,” the bench remarked, adding that the appointment of a federal IRSA member from Sindh must be ensured. The case has been adjourned until April 29 for the federal government’s detailed reply.
On Thursday, the Sindh irrigation department sent a fresh letter to the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) to seek the immediate closure of the Taunsa Panjnad (TP) Link Canal to avoid water shortages in the province.
In the most recent letter, the regulation director expressed serious concern over opening the TP link canal, particularly in light of the inflow pattern observed in the Indus Basin Irrigation System and disproportionate shortages between Punjab and Sindh during the first ten days of April 2025.
The department requested that the operation of the link canal be stopped immediately and that the “Panjnad canal system may be fed through Jhelum river flows, ultimately [averting a] shortage in Mangla reservoir”.
Water flows are being stored in the Tarbela and Mangla dams, according to the letter. The Mangla dam, built over the Jhelum river, primarily feeds the Jhelum-Chenab (JC) zone. By March 15, it stored 1,050 cusecs of water, but by April 17, the dam’s storage stood at 1,111.95 cusecs.
“The inflow observed at Jhelum [at] Mangla has exceeded the minimum anticipated scenario by 20pc,” the letter read. “It is evident that water availability in JC System is much more than Indus System during 1st ten daily of April 2025.”
Similarly, the government noted that the Tarbela dam was a principal source of water supply for Sindh and Balochistan. On April 17, it stored 1,420 cusecs after reaching 1,402 cusecs in February.
The letter added: “Releases downstream of Panjnad should be made in accordance with the observed river inflow pattern, rather than by initiating the operation of link canals, as doing so could rapidly reduce water availability for the lower riparian provinces.”
Additionally, the letter warned that during the first ten days of April, water shortages were observed in both Sindh and Punjab. “To balance the water levels in Sindh, water would need to be released from Punjab.”
Separately, Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Program Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan on Friday said that Punjab stands with brothers and sisters of Sindh on the canals issue and whatever decision is to be taken will be in the interest of the people of Sindh.
He was speaking to media during his visit to the JDC Lab here on Friday.
Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan said we often issued emotional statements while there is need to resolve all issues with mutual consultation by all stakeholders.
He hoped that canal issue would be resolved in the best interest of the people of Pakistan.
He said that the JDC lab has the latest machines, which are operational in the US and other foreign countries.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is paying close attention to the health sector and the Federal government would provide all possible cooperation to the JDC, he added.
Earlier on arrival at JDC Lab, PMYP chairman was received by JDC chief Zafar Abass who also brief him about the JDC Centere and Lab.Rana Mashood also inspected different parts of the Lab.
